494 



TOSSUMING." 



direction to go, for the object of its pursuit has either taken a considerable leap, or has 

 cut backwards before the Opossum entered its track. It raises itself up, stands for a 

 while on its hind-feet, looks around, snuffs the air again, and then proceeds ; but now, 

 at the foot of a noble tree, it comes to a full stand. It walks round the base of the 

 large trunk, over the snow-covered roots, and among them finds an aperture, which it 

 at once enters. 



Several minutes elapse, when it reappears, dragging along a squirrel already deprived 

 of life, with which in its mouth it begins to ascend the tree. Slowly it climbs. The 

 first fork does not seem to suit it, for perhaps it thinks it might there be too openly 

 exposed to the view of some wily foe, and so it proceeds, until it gains a cluster of 

 branches, intertwined with grape-vines, and there composing itself, it twists its tail 

 round one of the twigs, and with its sharp teeth demolishes the unlucky squirrel, which 

 it holds all the while with its fore-paws. 



The pleasant days of spring have arrived, and the trees vigorously shoot forth their 

 leaves ; but the Opossum is almost bare, and seems nearly exhausted by hunger. It 

 visits the margin of creeks, and is pleased to see the young frogs, which afford it a 

 tolerable repast. Gradually the poke-berry and the nettle shoot up, and on their tender 

 and juicy stems it gladly feeds. The matin calls of the wild turkey-cock delight the 

 ear of the cunning creature, for it well knows that it will soon hear the female, and 

 trace her to her nest, when it will suck the eggs with delight. 



Travelling through the woods, perhaps on the ground, perhaps aloft, from tree to 

 tree, it hears a cock crow, and its heart swells as it remembers the savory food on 

 which it regaled itself last summer in the neighboring farmyard. With great care, 

 however, it advances, and at last conceals itself in the very henhouse. 



Honest farmer ! why did you kill so many crows last winter ? aye, and ravens too ? 

 Well, you have had your own way of it ; but now, hie to the village and procure a store 

 of ammunition, clean your rusty gun, set your traps, and teach your lazy curs to 

 watch the Opossum. There it comes ! The sun is scarcely down, but the appetite 

 of the prowler is here ; hear the screams of one of your best chickens that has been 

 seized by him ! The cunning beast is off with it, and nothing now can be done, unless 

 you stand there to watch the fox or the owl, now exulting on the thought that you have 

 killed their enemy and your own friend, the poor crow. That precious hen under 

 which you last week placed a dozen eggs or so, is now deprived of them. The Opos- 

 sum, notwithstanding her angry outcries and ruffled feathers, has consumed them one 

 by one ; and now, look at the poor bird as she moves across your yard ; if not mad, she 

 is at least stupid, for she scratches here and there, calling to her chickens all the while, 



All this comes from your shooting crows. Had you been more merciful or more 

 prudent, the Opossum might have been kept within the woods, where it would have 

 been satisfied with a squirrel, a young hare, the egg of a turkey, or the grapes that so 

 profusely adorn the boughs of our forest trees. But I talk to you in vain. 



But suppose the farmer has surprised an Opossum in the act of killing one of his best 

 fowls. His angry feelings urge him to kick the poor beast, which, conscious of its in- 

 ability to resist, rolls off like a ball. The more the farmer rages, the more reluctant is 

 the animal to manifest resentment ; at last there it lies, not dead but exhausted, its jaws 

 open, its tongue extended, its eyes dimmed ; and there it would lie until the bottle-fly 

 should come to deposit its eggs, did not its tormentor walk off. * Surely/ says he to him- 

 self, * the beast must be dead.' But no, reader, it is only ' 'possuming,' and no sooner has 

 his enemy withdrawn than it gradually gets on its legs, and once more makes for 

 the woods." 



Besides the varied animal diet in which the Opossum indulges, it also eats vegetable 

 substances, committing as much havoc among plantations and fruit-trees as among rab- 

 bits and poultry. It is very fond of maize, procuring the coveted food by climbing the 

 tall stems, or by biting them across and breaking them down. It also eats acorns, beech- 

 nuts, chestnuts, and wild berries, while its fondness for the fruit of the " persimmon " tree, 

 is almost proverbial. While feeding on those fruits it has been seen hanging by its tail, 

 or its hinder paws, gathering the " persimmons " with its fore-paws, and eating them while 



